When is a succulent not a succulent?
Posted: Tue May 04, 2021 11:22 pm
I was out exploring the RSPB nature reserve near Newport this weekend and found a patch of waste ground under a pylon which had a few interesting little plants growing amongst rocks that were probably clinker from the old power station. Not a lot was growing there but you can see rabbit fur stuck to the plant in the photo so the poor soil probably isn't the only reason. We've had a very dry spring though so everything was very stunted.
The reason for my question was that I found this small plant with fleshy tri-lobed leaves that reminded me of a saxifrage. Googling ''succulent saxifrage' was no use but I eventually tracked it down as Saxifraga tridactylites, the rue-leaved saxifrage. Apparently it's not a succulent but does have fleshy leaves and I probably have succulent plants that have less flesh to their leaves. It just made me curious where the line is drawn.
The reason for my question was that I found this small plant with fleshy tri-lobed leaves that reminded me of a saxifrage. Googling ''succulent saxifrage' was no use but I eventually tracked it down as Saxifraga tridactylites, the rue-leaved saxifrage. Apparently it's not a succulent but does have fleshy leaves and I probably have succulent plants that have less flesh to their leaves. It just made me curious where the line is drawn.